“Thank you for the honor of being our daughter’s godparents,” Shelby said. “The POTUS and FLOTUS. What a lucky girl she is.”
“We’re just Sam and Nick to her,” Nick said, “and it’s an honor to be her godparents.”
A few minutes later, they were loaded into The Beast for the ride home to the White House.
“Shelby has the best parties,” Aubrey said as she yawned.
“Yes, she sure does,” Sam said.
“That cake was lit,” Scotty added.
“It was so good,” Alden said. “I asked Shelby to bring us some tomorrow, and she said she would.”
“Look at you, working your network to get more cake,” Sam said with a smile.
“What does that mean? Working my network?”
“It means that you want more cake, and you set it up with Shelby to make it happen,” Scotty said.
“What’s that got to do with a network?” Alden asked, furrowing his feathery blond brows.
“The people you know are your network,” Scotty said.
“Whatever. I asked Shelby for more cake, and she’s bringing it.”
“Well done, son,” Nick said.
Alden grinned at him, pleased by his approval.
Sam squeezed Nick’s hand, knowing he felt as delighted as she did to be part of this entertaining family they’d made for themselves.
While the kids ran off to get changed and Nick went to his briefing, Sam took a moment to call Jesse.
“Hey,” he said. “Have you heard the news?”
“I was with Avery Hill when he got the word. I’m so sorry to hear it led back to your mother, Jesse.”
“I always suspected one or both of my parents were involved, but no one would listen back in the day.”
“How are you feeling now that you know where your sister is and how it all went down?”
“Relieved and disgusted in equal parts. I’m told that the FBI showed up at the restaurant where my mother worked and hauled her away, shrieking that it was all a big mistake. I like that for her.”
“It’s the least of what she deserves. How are things with your sister?”
“She’s the same amazing person she was as a kid, and somehow we’ve managed to pick up right where we left off. The bond was immediate.”
“I couldn’t be happier for you.”
“I got to meet her kids last night, which was awesome. I have a niece and a nephew. She goes by Carolyn now. She and her husband, Kane, are going to bring the kids to DC this summer.”
“That’s wonderful.”
“I’m looking forward to that. Kane was suspicious of the stranger who showed up out of nowhere with a farcical tale about his wife, but then the DNA proved we’re related.”
“You should write a book about this case, Jesse. It’d be a bestseller.”
“I might consider that at some point. Listen, I want to thank you—and Freddie—for your help. It made the difference.”
